Spirobixanthene-based microporous polymeric microsphere for gas uptake and vapor adsorption

Spirobixanthene-based polymeric monodisperse spheres with particle sizes about 600 nm in diameter have been prepared through surfactant-free Suzuki coupling polymerization in a single-phase. The polymer (PSBX) exhibits permanent microporous nature with high Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area up to 1020 m(2) g(-1). Its hydrogen storage can reach upto 1.67 wt% (1.0 bar and 77K) and the uptake capacity for carbon dioxide is 12.0 wt% (1.0 bar and 273 K). Interestingly, PSBX is a highly hydrophobic material but with a high methanol uptake (574 mg g(-1) at saturated vapor pressure and room temperature). The good sorption capacity of PSBX for toluene (887 mg g(-1) at saturated vapor pressure and room temperature) makes it potent for use in the elimination of harmful small aromatic molecules in the environment. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.